Catherine Greig did not attend the hearing at the federal appeals court in Boston. Greig, 61, remains behind bars in Minnesota serving an eight-year sentence for harboring Bulger.

Her twin sister Margaret McCusker did attend the hearing and spoke only briefly on the way out.

“I'm hoping for the best,” said McCusker.

Greig’s attorney made arguments in front of three appelate judges including retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Dana Curhan said his client's eight year sentence should be reduced to 2 1/2 years.

“The conduct may have gone on for a long time, but it was the same type of conduct. It was harboring. It was nothing more than harboring,” Curhan told reporters after the hearing. “When you're harboring someone obviously you're going to conceal your identity and that's what the court used to apply the higher base offense level.”

Family members of alleged Bulger murder victims sat in the court for the hearing and outside made the same arguments prosecutors made inside. That Greig was essential to pulling off Bulger's 16 years on the lam by buying medication, food and paying bills.

“That made it a lot easier for him to stay out there all that time,” said Patricia Donahue whose husband was allegedly killed by Bulger.